NEW ORLEANS – App State freshman infielder Taylor Schafer and Texas State senior right-handed pitcher Emma Strood garnered the Sun Belt Conference’s weekly softball awards following the season’s fifth week of competition.
 
Schafer is the Mountaineers’ first Player of the Week honoree of the season, while Strood is the Bobcats’ second Pitcher of the Week selection this year alongside Madison Azua.

Player of the Week
Taylor Schafer, App State
[Fr. | INF | Schererville, Ind.]
 
Schafer provided a power surge as part of App State’s 4-0 weekend at the Mountaineer Classic in Boone, N.C. She batted .571 and slugged 1.583 with seven hits, six runs scored and recorded 14 RBI. The freshman recorded three multi-hit games, and two of her four home runs were grand slams. She had two hit, scored twice and hit her first grand slam in the 10-0 win over Furman on March 6, before adding a three-hit, two-homer game with six RBI in an 11-3 victory Queens two days later. Schafer added to her tally with two more hits, a pair of runs and added another home run against Queens in the second game of a doubleheader.

Pitcher of the Week
Emma Strood, Texas State
[Sr. | RHP | League City, Texas]

Strood went 2-0 in three appearances in the circle while registering a 0.54 ERA and allowing just three hits and three walks in 13 innings while striking out 15. The senior spun the 21st no-hitter in Texas State history with one walk and 12 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout victory over Saint Francis on March 4. From there, she earned the win against No. 15 Texas A&M the following day to close out the weekend with a five-inning, one-run outing while striking out three. Opposing hitters batted just .071 against Strood during her three appearances.
 
2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Players of the Week
Week 1 – Chloe Hatcher, DP, Georgia State
Week 2 – Brie Normandin, SS, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Makaley Boswell, UTIL, Troy
Week 4 – Kayla Christensen, INF, Georgia Southern
Week 5 – Taylor Schafer, INF, App State
 
2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 – Ryley Harrison, RHP, South Alabama
Week 2 – Madison Azua, LHP, Texas State
Week 3 – Bethaney Noble, RHP, Louisiana
Week 4 – Makayla Stephens, RHP, Georgia State
Week 5 – Emma Strood, RHP, Texas State